The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-07-21

John was puzzled, and felt sure he
had not, but Susan would give HIM no
further satisfaction on the subject Of
the silk dress.
As spring approached she made q few
suggestions as to the advisabi1ity Of fire
VOID being set to season in due time.
But John, prompt and dilligent in prep
aration for seed time and harvest, full
OF the best Intentions regarding his
wife's comfort; still Thought the wood
was ono of tho things which could be
looked to at any tim6, and 6nsan soon
gave over reminding him Of it.
One day In September he came home
to dinner and found q cold lunch wait
ing him.: The house was clean and
quiet and cheerless; no wife there. but
d written line which ran:
DEAR JonN-I am going to spend
tho day over at Mrs Carters, Will be
home in time to give you late supper"
He was glad to have her go, for she
had had busy summer and needed q
little change. But there was q dav out
the next week and the next and the
next, until he began to wonder at
Susans growing taste for gaddinQ
about: In early October he came home
to find his woodward, which had still
remained empty, occupied by half q
dozen or 80 cords of first class wood.
with Sol. Garter and his two big bows
busy at it, and they worked until it was
stored up as before in the shed. And
John felt cross, but asked no questions:
''Where's Mrs. Barker ?" said q small
Carter boy to John, as he put up his
bars one evening.
"She is over to neighbor Grants.
You will fine her there if YOU want her."
ut amt no matter. You can tell her
here's the SEWN she's to do for mother.
and mother wants to know if she can
come and wash to our house to-mor.
row."
"The-old scratch she does?" ex-
claimed John, turning on the boy in
blank amazement, which rapidly grew
into anger. "Mrs. Barker hire out to
do washin' and sewin'?> What dive
mean by comm to me with such mes
sage, you young rascal?"
The :astonished youngster dropped
his sewing and applied his knuclkles I'd
his eyes as John advanced towards him;
then ran with oil his might as the bun:
die came whizzing after him. And Sa-
sans lord and master strobe In digni-
fed wrath down the road to meet her.
"Susan-I. don't understand this
there's been young chap talkin' about
SEWN and washin' for Mrs. Carter.
What in all creation docs it mean, I'd
like to know"
cts all right" said Susan, compos-
edly. "What was the messenger"
"Thunderationi You don't mean to
say you sow md wash for other folks,
do you?"
"And for what?" Is there ANYTHING
you want, Susan, that I don't give
your"
EYES, John, there is. want wood.
I can't saw and chop, but I can wash
and sew and do anything else woman
ought to do, and there's no blame to
me for changing work I con do for
work ! can't. I'm never" Susan spoke
very firmly, but without grain Of irri-
tation, "going to put up with poor,
badly cut, green wood again as long as
1 can turn my woman's work into mans
work. I'd rather wash for somebody
every week, it's half the comfort of q
woman's life. You've never had to
wait for your dinner with the wood
sizzling In the stove and the fire not
burning since I've been providing the
wood"
John was dumbfounded.
"And you've been working for Sol.
Carriers wife these two yearsl" he said,
in intense disgust.
mo; my silk dress paid for last years
wood. I hated to let it go, John, be-
cause you gave it me, but Tilda Carter
took fancy to it. It was she you saw
wearing it, and Susan laughed at his
grunt of dissatisfaction with the whole
business.
"You to 60 letting me down this way
before the Carriers !" he growled. And
If Mrs. Johns eyes flashed little who
can blame her, as she answered.:
IF there's any letting down to do it's
your doing, not minei"
They finished their walk home in 81
lence, and then John said:
Susan, will you leave the wood bust.
ness to me after this?"
"11i try you, John" she said. --Phila